Linebacker Rick Gamboa aims to lead Buffs back to winning ways

Senior has 292 tackles in his career

University of Colorado linebacker Rick Gamboa puts pressure on USC quarterback Sam Darnold during a game last November in Boulder. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

Going through spring football one last time with the Colorado Buffaloes, it's hitting Rick Gamboa that he's an old guy now.

"It feels weird," the veteran linebacker said. "I'm finally a senior, one of the oldest guys on the team and just being around for so long and knowing so much, it's kind of weird. But at the same time, (being a leader is) like a natural role I'm used to."

For the Buffaloes (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12 last year) to rebound from a disappointing season, they'll lean heavily on veterans such as Gamboa, who has 39 games under his belt.

As a team leader, Gamboa is focused on his personal development, but even more so on the improvement of the team.

After the Buffs went 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South in 2016, they returned to the bottom of the division and missed a bowl game again last season. Gamboa is intent on trying to regain the formula that led to success in 2016.

"There are a few things I can take away from that 2016 season, and just the fact that guys understood what we had to do," he said. "Everybody was focused, everybody knew what our main goal was. I think 2017 there was a lot of new things - new coaches, new players, new plays, things like that."

CU's focus in 2017 wasn't as razor sharp as it was in 2016, either, and the most popular word used around the program lately is "entitlement." There was a lot of it in 2017, and the Buffs are trying to flush it out.

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"Last year kind of knocked us back down to reality," Gamboa said. "Not everything is given and you can't take anything for granted.

"This year, we ... don't really have that big-headed mindset anymore. Everybody is ready to go back to work."

That includes Gamboa, who could very easily have some entitlement, given that he's started each of the last 37 games for the Buffs at inside linebacker. With 292 tackles in his career, he could join the elite 400-tackle club. Only five players in CU history are in that club.

Despite what he's done, however, Gamboa came into this spring doing what everybody else is doing: fighting for a job.

Senior Drew Lewis (team-leading 119 tackles) is back at inside linebacker, as is true sophomore Nate Landman, who emerged late last season and racked up 17 tackles in only 79 snaps played. CU's linebacker corps also includes sophomore Akil Jones and talented redshirt freshmen.

While Gamboa is likely to start, linebackers coach Ross Els wants to get more players involved on game days. Gamboa (847 snaps) and Lewis (821) led the defense in playing time last year, and Els wants those numbers to come down.

For the good of the team, so does Gamboa.

"Whoever is going to have the most energy and be the most productive (should be on the field)," said Gamboa, who had 117 tackles last season. "Having guys healthy, having guys fresh, that definitely helps. That's one thing from 2016 that definitely helped us. There were times in games last year toward the end of the game, me and Drew might have been a little tired, a little worn down."

Whether his playing time is reduced or not, Gamboa is doing all he can to be a better player, including working on his body. The 6-foot Gamboa is aiming to maintain his 230 pounds, but wants it to be leaner weight, as he aims to increase his speed.

"That's one thing that's hurt me throughout the past couple of years, my speed," he said. "I've never used that as an excuse ... but, I've definitely been working on that a lot.

"Anything I can do to get better."

A better Gamboa will help the Buffs to be a better team, and that, ultimately, is his main goal. He wants to get the Buffs back to a bowl game, and win it.

"Since I've been here, we have not been able to (win our last game)," he said. "I've had to look the seniors in the eyes while they were sad, tears coming out their eyes, knowing they lost their last college game playing for Colorado. That's one of my big personal goals is to definitely win that last game."

Notable

The Buffs were off Tuesday and will return to the field Wednesday for their final practice of the week. Wednesday will be the fourth of 15 spring practices for CU.

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